Random strangers haven't had to make the kind of choices they do. Random strangers haven't had to put a pickaxe in their husband's head to keep him down, haven't lost and found and lost again their families, haven't had to weigh every encounter with a stranger to gauge whether they'd be an asset or a threat. Most people, he knows-- because all of them were normal enough, once, a lifetime ago-- think they know what they'd do when faced with these impossible necessities, but it's different, living it. He might have made the same choices she did, he might not. He might have died himself. His hands are dirty enough that he's not going to judge her so quick.
Everyone's got something, their secret shames and failures.
He doesn't know how to start. There're no good ways, same as it might've been if she'd had to find the right moment. Daryl's got a choice, though, and he's making it for her sake.
"Back home," he echoes, then pauses to clarify. "Long time ago. Back before we left Atlanta, me and Merle, we weren't sticking around. We were gonna take everything worth takin' and split, soon's the time was right."
That's it, that's what he's got, laid out in front of them. He's sorry about it, more than he ever would've thought he could be. The whole thing was Merle's plan, but in his brother's absence Daryl's willing to accept responsibility for it. He could've said no. Whether it ever would've come to pass, he can't be sure, though he thinks it's likely Merle was talking shit as usual. But all of that. He's not saying 'cos he doesn't want to make this look better.
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Random strangers haven't had to make the kind of choices they do. Random strangers haven't had to put a pickaxe in their husband's head to keep him down, haven't lost and found and lost again their families, haven't had to weigh every encounter with a stranger to gauge whether they'd be an asset or a threat. Most people, he knows-- because all of them were normal enough, once, a lifetime ago-- think they know what they'd do when faced with these impossible necessities, but it's different, living it. He might have made the same choices she did, he might not. He might have died himself. His hands are dirty enough that he's not going to judge her so quick.
Everyone's got something, their secret shames and failures.
He doesn't know how to start. There're no good ways, same as it might've been if she'd had to find the right moment. Daryl's got a choice, though, and he's making it for her sake.
"Back home," he echoes, then pauses to clarify. "Long time ago. Back before we left Atlanta, me and Merle, we weren't sticking around. We were gonna take everything worth takin' and split, soon's the time was right."
That's it, that's what he's got, laid out in front of them. He's sorry about it, more than he ever would've thought he could be. The whole thing was Merle's plan, but in his brother's absence Daryl's willing to accept responsibility for it. He could've said no. Whether it ever would've come to pass, he can't be sure, though he thinks it's likely Merle was talking shit as usual. But all of that. He's not saying 'cos he doesn't want to make this look better.
It's a gift. An ugly, awful one.